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Album: Gold Audio 02: Stormy Weather

Episode: 41

Lesson/Theme: Obedience; biblical history; Jonah.

Bible Verse: The book of Jonah; Ephesians 6:1-3

Characters: Lucy, Whit

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: August 27, 1988

Last Air Date: March 10, 2008

Description:
Jack is upstairs in the Bible Room when Lucy approaches him. She's upset with Jack. He isn't following through on a promise they made to their parents. Jack and Lucy have committed to help with the church cleanup day, but Jack would rather stay at Whit's End and look at all the Bible displays. Whit walks up and demonstrates the attractions in the room: the Talking Mirror, the "Full Armor of God," the Walls of Jericho, and so on. Finally, they come to a big fish, which represents the story of Jonah. Lucy says they should leave, but Jack asks Whit to tell them the story. Whit does, and he insists that Jack and Lucy help by using their imaginations. They do-and end up inside the action! They're sailing on a stormy sea. Jonah is trying to run away from God. When the sailors learn this, Jonah tells them the only way to save themselves is to throw him overboard. The crew tosses Jonah over, and a wave sweeps Jack and Lucy overboard as well! All three are swallowed by a whale. Later, in the belly of the whale, Jonah does some serious soul searching-and in the process he manages to convict Jack of not obeying his parents. Finally, having escaped from the whale's belly, they all arrive in Nineveh, where Jonah delivers a message from God. He says that the Lord will destroy the city's inhabitants. But the city repents, and God spares it-much to Jonah's displeasure. God reproves Jonah, and his tale ends. At the story's conclusion, Jack asks Whit if Jonah learned a lesson. Whit asks the same thing of Jack. Jack realizes he's disobeyed his parents, but now that the church cleanup day is over, it's too late to make things right. Fortunately, Whit says the cleanup day was postponed until the following Saturday, so Jack and Lucy can keep their promise after all. In the meantime, Whit has a suggestion: Anyone for a little fishing?

Questions:
What does it mean to "cast lots" for something? What other story in the Bible uses this phrase? Jonah asked Jack if he always listened to his parents. Do you always listen to your parents? To God? Why or why not? Why is it foolish to try to run from God?